Bass Is Maternal

After the success of SMITH & MIGHTY’S last album, ‘Big World Small World’, STUD!O K7 is about to re-release their grandiose first album ‘Bass Is Maternal’. SMITH & MIGHTY, made up of Rob Smith, Ray Mighty and Peter D. Rose, feature among the pioneers of a sound which turned the small British port of Bristol into one of recent musical history’s centre stages – and SMITH & MIGHTY’s history is closely linked with that of their hometown. All the vocals on ‘Bass Is Maternal’ and ‘Big World Small World’ for example, have been sung by musician chums of theirs. SMITH & MIGHTYs close relationship with Bristol’s music scene comes unmistakably through this and the re-release of ‘Bass Is Maternal’ puts a brilliant work from that scene afresh on the shelves.Their debut album ‘Bass Is Maternal’ was released as a limited edition with just 3000 copies on their own label More Rockers in 1995. The album is a dub version of one originally recorded for London Records and was the first album to be released on the label after their major deal expired. Yet due to poor distribution it only found its way to hard-core fans, despite garnering outstanding press reviews. An international breakthrough was still some way off until the release of their mix for the DJ Kicks series. This paved the way to the success that now greets them worldwide. This has been consolidated by their new album ‘Big World Small World’ that has enjoyed considerable chart success in many countries. A further highpoint was their European and US tour, where artists such as Tammy Payne, Kelz and Louise joined the vocalist entourage.‘Bass Is Maternal’ is a title which reflects SMITH & MIGHTYs’ love of bass. ‘The first thing you ever hear and feel is bass – your mother’s heartbeat’ says Rob Smith. Also characteristic of their deep sound is their unique juxtaposition of visionary breakbeats and dub, which has been undeniably instrumental in shaping the ‘Bristol sound’. Bass is the heart of music!